Best (and Cheap) Autofocus Zoom lens for Nikon F4?

[shorelineae]

Here is Another zoom lens question
another.

I would prefer a D version autofocus lens or I should say, any autofocus lens that is _not_ G. VR also not required as it doesn't work on the F4 as I understand it.

Zoom range: 50-200 is ideal. Or 50-150.

Intended usage: indoor events with people moving or general outdoors "street" photography.

I have two manual zoom lenses already so i just need one autofocus one.

I'm traveling and able to try them in used camera stores here.


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[narsuitus]

I own and use the following two auto focus zooms on my Nikon F4:

[A] Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D AF-S (77mm filter)
Fast, constant f-stop, auto focus lens
Excellent image quality
Expensive
Good for head and shoulder to face shots
Excellent for candid portraits of stage performers
Use on Nikon film and digital SLRs

[F] Tamron 28-200mm f/3.8 - f/5.6 zoom auto focus (72mm filter)
Slow, variable f-stop, auto focus lens
Wide focal length range
Given to me as a gift by a photographer who was changing from film to digital
Was going to get rid of it until I discovered it made a good portrait lens
Also a nice travel lens
Good for full length portraits to head shots
Good to use when lens changing is not recommended (such as on sandy beaches)
Good to use at events that have maximum telephoto length limits (at 28mm focal length setting and without lens hood, lens is less than 3 1/2 inches or 8 1/2 cm long)
Use on Nikon film and digital SLRs



Portrait Lenses by Narsuitus, on Flickr

 

[GarageBoy]

80-200 2.8s are sub $200 now on eBay -

 

[B-9]

70-210 f4.0 AF (no D variant)

About 80$ on eBay.

 

[Austintatious]

I own and use two AF-D zooms.
First is a street sweeper.
Nikon AF 28-105mm F3.5-4.5D
The second one is more in the range you asked for.
Nikon AF 70-210mm F4-5.6D

Both have been well reviewed and I am pleased with the image quality. Very Reasonable cost.

 

[james.liam]

I’m partial to the 17-35/2.8 D. You can pick up a good copy for $700-900. Maybe even without the squeak.

 

[css9450]

80-200 2.8s are sub $200 now on eBay -

That's amazing considering I paid more than a thousand (in 1995) for mine, and that was a good price at the time. But its still my very best and probably most used lens to this day.

 

[shorelineae]

Thanks everyone. Very useful recommendations. I like the sound of the street sweeper 28-105 and its nice to have several options in the 70-200 range.


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[Timmyjoe]

I'm a huge fan of the AF Nikkor 80-200 2.8D ED lens shown below. It is fantastic on film, and gets just beaten out on digital by the 70-200 VRII version. But for an F4, it's the ticket.

Best,
-Tim

 

[Pál_K]

24-120 AF- D is the original "street sweeper".

Bought one on a whim long ago and have used it on my D700 for motorsports, but it'll work perfectly on an F4 (which I've done). Quality at longer lengths is very very good. Quality not bad at shorter lengths either, despite what others have said. I've now got a hood on mine, which helps with flare.

(sorry for old blurry cellphone image)

 

[nikon_sam]

Not a zoom but I used the Nikon 180mm 2.8 AF-D on my F4...

 

[Tim Murphy]

Tamron 24-135MM F/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical (IF) Macro

Tamron 24-135MM F/3.5-5.6 AD Aspherical (IF) Macro

Dear shorelineae,
For a walk around lens that costs about $ 100.00 for an excellent used copy this lens is hard to beat.

Regards,
Tim Murphy
Harrisburg, PA

 

[Timmyjoe]

Not a zoom but I used the Nikon 180mm 2.8 AF-D on my F4...

Love that lens for head & shoulder shots on a Nikon film camera.

Best,
-Tim